HC Deb 08 April 1957 vol 568 cc84-5W
41. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will publish in HANSARD an estimate as to what the cost would be to increase the old-age pension by 5s.. 7s. 6d., 10s., 15s., and£1 per week, respectively, taking as the basis the number of persons who were, on 1st March, 1957, recipients of retirement pensions.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The additional annual cost to the National Insurance Fund of increases in the weekly rate of retirement pensions of the amounts indicated would at present be:

Increase of weekly rate Additional annual cost (£ millions)
5s. … … … … 60
7s. 6d. … … … … 80
10s. … … … … 119
15s. … … … … 178
£1 … … … … 238

The cost would rise substantially in future years as the number of retirement pensioners increased. The figures do not include the cost of consequential increases in the rates of other benefits.

42. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he will state for the latest convenient stated date the number of old-age pensioners who were receiving State assistance towards the payment of their rents; and what was the total annual figure involved.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

On the basis of a sample taken on 7th November, 1956, the National Assistance Board estimates that 780,000 National Assistance grants then being paid as supplements to retirement or non-contributory old-age pensioners who were householders included provision for rent. For the reason given in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 14th February, 1957, it is not possible to give a figure for the cost.

43. Mr. Lewis

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state, for the latest convenient date, the total number of old-age pensioners in the County Borough of West Ham, together with similar figures for those in receipt of National Assistance payments: and how these figures compare with March, 1951.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

As I have previously explained, statistics of retirement pensioners are not available for local government areas. I am informed by the National Assistance Board that in the County Borough of West Ham on 26th March, 1957, 535 persons were receiving non-contributory old-age pensions. At the same date there were being paid 405 weekly Assistance grants to supplement non-contributory pensions and 4,346 to supplement retirement pensions. Comparable figures for March, 1951, were 1,061, 443, and 3,742 respectively. Some of the supplements provided for the requirements of a household with more than one pensioner.